Your rude co-workers cost your company an extra $14,000 per employee, according to science

Over the years, I've heard business leaders excuse rude behavior by employees by saying things like, "He's a hard worker, and that's all I care about," or, "That's just how she communicates. She doesn't mean to come across that way."

And sometimes nice people get blamed for being too sensitive. I've heard leaders say things like, "We don't care if anyone's feelings are hurt. We care about getting the job done," or, "She just needs to learn to ignore his rude comments and not take every insult so personally."

How rude people cost employers money.

A 2007 study published in the Academy of Management Journal reports workplace incivility costs companies $14,000 per employee because of lost productivity and work time.

To be clear, the study wasn't referring to outright bullying or threatening behavior. Instead, the researchers examined incivility--less overt forms of misconduct, like making derogatory remarks, ignoring co-workers, and using a condescending tone.

And perhaps even more disturbing, a 2016 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology reports that incivility is contagious. Just as kindness can be "paid forward,"
so can rude behavior.

Researchers discovered that people on the receiving end of uncivil behavior experience mental fatigue because they are often left wondering why they were targeted and how they should respond.

That mental fatigue decreased their ability to manage their impulses and regulate their emotions. In turn, they were more likely to treat others in an unkind manner. Those spirals of incivility were often unintentional.

Dealing with sarcasm and putdowns means employees have fewer resources to devote to their work, which is why rude behavior is costly to a company.

The effects were worse in organizations that were perceived as internally political--where employees do what is best for them, not necessarily what is best for the organization.

The study also found that workplace incivility has doubled over the past two decades.

Strategies for improving workplace culture.

It's important for managers and leaders to recognize the harmful effects of rude behavior. And rather than blame employees for being weak or sensitive, address rude behavior at its source.

Don't be afraid to call someone out and address it when someone's cutting remarks or eye-rolls are harming the workplace culture.

Of course, it's important for leaders to be good role models too. If you treat others disrespectfully, incivility will spread among the ranks.

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#10: City of Hope

"City of Hope is one of only 45 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute."

"John Deere supports projects in the areas of farmer training, value-chain enhancement, and water access and use."

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#8: Teach for America

"Teach for America’s mission is to enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of the nation’s most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence."

"The Gilead Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2005, seeks to improve the health and well-being of underserved communities around the world."

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#6: Shell

"The Shell Foundation works to tackle the social, environmental and market barriers that stop nearly three billion people around the world from accessing opportunities to earn income, improve their quality of life and escape the poverty trap."

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#5: Lowe's

"Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation funds nonprofit organizations and public agencies that support our charitable goals."

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#4: Hewlett-Packard

"The HP Foundation makes strategic investments to create opportunities in underserved communities and transform education, and when disaster strikes, we help affected communities recover more quickly."

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#3: Kiva

"Kiva combines the culture and approach of an internet start-up with an intense focus on alleviating poverty and serving the borrower-to-lender connection."

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#2: GitHub

"GitHub launched its Social Impact team in 2015 to formalize how it supports social good initiatives."